Portable binder for rug samples and the like



March 1, 1966 c. H. MARBUT 3,237,825

PORTABLE BINDER FOR RUG SAMPLES AND THE LIKE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 21, 1963 INVENTOR. CLARENCE MA RBUT uzoe ATTOR E) March 1, 1966 c. H. MARBUT 3,237,825

PORTABLE BINDER FOR RUG SAMPLES AND THE LIKE Filed Oct. 21, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

CLARENCE H. MARBUT ATTOR Er United States Patent 0 3,237,825 PORTABLE BINDER FOR RUG SAMPLES AND THE LIKE Clarence H. Marbut, De Kalb County, Ga. (419 Highland Ave., Atlanta 12, Ga.) Filed Get. 21, 1963, Ser. No. 317,744 3 Claims. (Cl. 224-45) This invention relates to a portable binder for rug samples and the like and particularly to such a binder which in one form is adjustable to accommodate various numbers and thicknesses of samples and optionally may have a stand-up retractable back arrangement whereby the binder may be used for demonstration or advertising in a self supporting manner.

Salesmen of rug samples and similar items normally carry pieces or swatches of such samples showing different colors, sizes, grades, quality and other characteristics which the salesman wishes to demonstrate either to his distributors or potential buyers such as consumers. Rug samples are particularly large insofar as swatches of material are concerned and vary in thickness as well as there being a variation from time to time as to the number of such samples that the salesman desires to carry to exhibit to that particular customer which makes it necessary that these samples be changed from time to time and sometimes even from day to day or during the day. Prior art swatch-binders were generally of the fixed type, some being mere backing boards with clamping means to screw through the fabric to hold it in place. Such devices are not satisfactory for changing swatches readily or for changing sizes and quantities of switches. The present invention pertains to this general situation and provides a binder which is adjustable.

Generally described, without restriction on the scope of my invention, one embodiment of the invention is in the form of a portable binder of the sort which may be manufactured from any type of flat board such as paper board, light Masonite, cardboard or other material attractively coated as by smooth covering with nice looking vinyl or other plastic material or otherwise finishing the surface. The binder comprises a substantially foursided back of rectangular or square formation which provides the rigid backing for the binder and is identified at times as a back flap. The back or back fiap is hingedly mounted as by providing same with a fold line transversely across the width at the top separating the back from a top back, hingedly mounted panel in which there is provided openings, a pair in spaced relation with metal grommets. Also hingedly formed with the top panel is a top adjustment panel created initially as a flexible attachment with the back member and having therein a plurality of longitudinal slots with a metal bracket therebeneath. A top adjustment flap having a handle thereon is provided with screws or rivets passing through the longitudinal slots on the bottom adjustment panel with sufiioient friction to hold the two adjustment panels in fixed relation but for adjustment to vary the distance to a depending front flap attached to the top adjustment panel and having spaced, aligned, grommeted holes matching with the holes in the top panel. According to this construction, rug samples or other swatches of material with holes therein are fastened in place by removable screws and when the thickness or distance between the front panel and the back, top panel is to be varied to accommodate a different thickness of swatches it is a simple matter of moving the top adjustment panel on the bottom adjustment panel causing the screws or rivets to slide in their respective openings. In a modified form, the construction of the panels is similar and in lieu of the fixed, slotted screw adjustment arrangement there is provided a series of aligned, spaced holes in both the top adjustment panel and the bottom adjustment panel across the width of the binder and in which are positioned adjustment screws which may be removed from one set of holes and moved to another thereby adjusting the distance between the front and the back. In still another modified form of the invention, with or without one or the other of the top adjustment means recited in the preceding description, a foldable back support arrangement is provided on the back of the binder recessed in a recessed panel therein and which may be pulled from its normal plane outwardly and fastened in place by a foldable tab to provide a two point edge support whereby the entire binder may be positioned on a surface such as a table to remain there self supporting.

An object of this invention is to provide a simple, inexpensive binder for rug swatches and the like which is adjustable to accommodate more or less thickness of samples.

A further object of this invention is to provide an inexpensive binder which may be made in a flat panel arrangement with hinged panel portions together forming the completed binder panels which may be provided with adjustment means between two panels whereby the distance from the rear of the binder may be varied to accommodate a difference of thickness.

A further object of this invention resides in the particular construction of the above mentioned objects whereby a fixed adjustment may be obtained simply by sliding the top panel relative to a bottom panel to adjust the distance involved.

Another object of this invention resides in the particular type of adjustment whereby a series of aligned holes with inexpensive screws provides the complete adjustment necessary to remove swatches and adjust the distance or to add swatches and adjust the distance to increase for additional thickness thereby providing an inexpensive binder which accomplishes all of the necessary adjustment.

Other and further objects and advantages of my invention will become apparent upon reading the following specification taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one form of the adjustable binder mentioned in the introduction.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a typical type of adjustable fastener screw used with the binder of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along lines 3-41 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a modified form of the binder shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional View taken substantially along lines 55 in FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view looking upwardly into the underside of the binder shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. '7 is a perspective view of a modified form of binder employing a stand-up retractable back.

FIG. 8 is a rear elevation view of the back of the binder shown in FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a side elevation view of the binder shown in FIG. 7 on a level surface.

Referring initially to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 and then to the other figures of the drawings as the description unfolds, the binder in general is designated by reference numeral 10 and comprises an elongated back panel member 12 of generally four sided construction of rectangular or square shape and of a length variable but only sufficient to be slightly longer than anticipated length of rug samples or other swatches. Back 12 as is all of the binder 10 is manufactured from any type of substantially rigid board such as cardboard, fiberboard, and even in more expensive constructions from Masonite, plywood or other materials. The surfaces of panel 12 and all of the panels of the binder are covered or coated attractively as by heat sealing laminations or coverings of vinyl material, either solid vinyl or other plastic or fabric impregnated plastic materials, so as to completely envelope the panels and to be finished off with smooth, somewhat tapered and straight edges.

At the same time the panels are covered with vinyl or other material, it is possible to hingedly include various other panel members. A foldable or hinged top, back panel member 14 is attached as by means of the vinyl material or fabric along a hinged line 17 to the back panel or as part of the back panel 12 and in like manner is joined to a hinged or movable top, lower adjustment panel 16 having a plurality of aligned, spaced holes 18 across the width or transversely thereof, there being several of such holes in line lengthwise of the panel 16. A top adjustment panel 20 carrying a foldable handle 22 is provided with openings 24 in which are positioned removable screws 26 that match with a selective, aligned set of holes 18 across the width of panel 16. Screws 26 have round-headed, cylindrical nuts 28 which fit. smoothly into respective holes 18 and attach to the screws 26 to hold the adjustment panels 20, 16 in place.

Top back panel 14 is manufactured with cylindrical nuts 30 extending inwardly towards the front of the binder to receive removable, elongated rug securing screws 32 positioned in a front flap or panel 34 hingedly connected along a hinge 36 to the top adjustment panel 20.

Without the samples in place, for shipping or storing or other purposes, the entire binder 10 may be laid out fiat in one plane since all of the panels are hingedly or movably mounted with respect to each other. Further, if desired the panels 20, 34 may be removed from the other panel and boxed or stored separately.

The embodiment shown in FIG. 4 designated by reference numeral 50 is generally very similar in overall construction to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 and is particularly so with respect to manufacturing characteristics such as the construction of the boards and the covering with vinyl covering and the like. The same handle member 22 may be employed and a similar back flap 52 is utilized which has a top back panel 54 corresponding very much to panel 14 in the previous embodiment but which is provided with open grommets 56. The adjustment arrangement of holes 18 and screws 24 in the previous embodiment has been eliminated and replaced by a different type of adjustment. A top adjustment panel member 58 with a front flap 60 having holes 62 therein in which may be positioned rug securing screws 64 fitting into cylindrical nuts 66 in grommets 56, slidably fits over a bottom adjustment panel 68 provided with a metal bracket 70 having a plurality of longitudinal, spaced slots 72 formed thereon, there being two rows of two each in the embodiment of FIG. 4. Rivets 74 have the heads thereof secured in top adjustment panel 58 and covered by the vinyl covering and the riveted bottoms thereof outside of slots 72 in plate 70 with sufficient riveted tightness between top adjustment panel 58 and bottom adjustment panel 68 to make it adjustable if slight force is applied to cause the panels to move relative to each other either forwardly or rearwardly. Through this action, the screw 64 may be removed and the thickness of the rug samples 76 may be increased or decreased as desired, the slack or difference in distance being taken up by moving the two panels 58, 68 relative to each other. This can be accomplished very quickly, even between calls by a salesman who does not wish to exhibit certain samples to the next customer or finds that he no longer has this particular item to sell or for any other reason. Likewise, a new sample may be inserted as they become available from the manufacturer and old samples discarded with very little or no trouble.

In the modified form in FIG. 7 the binder is designated generally as and comprises a back panel 102, a front short panel 104, a top panel 106 and removable swatch securing screws 108 extending from and through panel 104 and panel 102. A handle 110 is provided on top of panel 106.

The back panel 102 is, in one form, constructed as one ply of a multiple ply back and the outside ply 112 has been cut to provide a foldable support panel 114 which folds about the hinge line connection 116 between the cut and uncut portion. Panel 114 has been cut substantially in the center thereof to provide another folding tab 11-8 foldable about a hinge line 120 and bent on the end to provide a locking tab 122 insertable between the rear ply 112 and the front ply 124. A finger indentation 126 is provided on the panel 114 .to assist in swaying it from its retracted to outwardly folded position shown in FIGS. 7 and 9.

Rug samples may be secured in the binder 100 between panels 104 and 102 held in place by screws 108 and may be removed and replaced as desired. Any of the adjustable tops shown in FIGS. 1 or 4 may or may not be used in the embodiment of FIG. 7.

In the operation of the device shown in FIG. 7, the binder 100 may be shipped in completely fiat condition when not folded to hold rug samples and when not having any rug samples in place. Once provided with rug samples or other material held in place by screws 108, the support 114, and the locking tabs 120, 122 may be swung into their normal retracted condition in which they are co-planar with ply 112 and completely flat with the back and the entire binder carried by handle 110. Once in place, as when calling on a customer, the support back 114 is readily swung out of place by inserting the finger in the indentation 126 thereby grasping and swinging panel 114 outwardly and then with the hand pushing locking tabs 118 inwardly and bending the small tab 122 around and inserting it between ply 112 and the ply 124.

While I have shown and described one embodiment and a modification of the adjustable form of this binder, and while there is also shown a modified form of the binder wherein a support is provided, this is by way of illustration only and does not constitute the only forms of the invention since various alterations, modifications, changes, deviations, ramifications, and changes may be made in the embodiments shown and described herein without departing from the scope of my invention as shown in the appended claims.

I claim:

I. In a portable binder for binding rug swatches, samples or the like:

(a) a substantially fiat back member corresponding in size and shape substantially to the size and shape of swatches of material such as rug samples or the like to be accommodated therein,

(b) a shorter front member extending substantially the same width as said back member and being of less length,

(c) a first adjustment panel carried by said front member and extending across the top of said binder toward said back member,

(d) a second panel carried by said back member and extending across the top toward said front member and overlapping with said first panel,

(e) and means adjustably fastening said first and second panels for adjustment to extend the front and back members further apart or closer together, selectively, thereby to accommodate more or less thick ness of swatches of rug samples or the like carried therein, said means including a pressure connection between said substantially flat back member and said shorter front member forcing same together about the swatches or samples therebetween and also look ing said adjustment in place on said swatches or samples,

(f) said first panel and said second panel each having a plurality of corresponding adjustment openings extending therethrough providing an aligned set of adjustment holes,

(g) and said pressure connection including fastening members extending through a set of said holes between said first and second panels thereby adjustably fastening said panels together and said adjustment members being removable and said panels selectively i e-positioned to another location to bring said front and rear closer together or to move them further apart thereby to select and secure said first and second panels in another position of adjustment.

2. The device claimed in claim 1 wherein one of said first and second panel members has a plurality of longitudinal slots therein extended in the direction from front to rear and from the front member to the back member.

3. The device in claim 2 wherein said flat back member has a support member mounted on the back thereof and being displaceable and moveable therefrom from a position substantially fiat thereagainst to a position with the bottom thereof extended from said back providing the support surface therewith, and a locking means on said support member actuatable manually to lock said support in position to support the holder on the surface.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,692,712 11/1928 Taummebaum 2473.18 1,733,956 10/1925 Franz 129-13 2,553,174 5/1951 Cross 248459 GERALD M. FORLENZA, Primary Examiner.

HUGO O. SCHULZ, Examiner.

ARNOLD GRANT, Assistant Examiner; 

1. IN A PORTABLE BINDER RUG SWATCHES, SAM PLES OR THE LIKE: (A) A SUBSTANTIALLY FLAT BACK MEMBER CORRESPONDING IN SIZE AND SHAPE SUBSTANTIALLY TO THE SIZE AND SHAPE OF SWATCHES OF MATERIAL SUCH AS RUG SAMPLES OR THE LIKE TO BE ACCOMMODATED THEREIN, (B) A SHORTER FRONT MEMBER EXTENDING SUBSTANTIALLY THE SAME WIDTH AS SAID BACK MEMBER AND BEING OF LESS LENGTH, (C) A FIRST ADJUSTMENT PANEL CARRIED BY SAID FRONT MEMBER AND EXTENDING ACROSS THE TOP OF SAID BINDER TOWARD SAID BACK MEMBER, (D) A SECOND PANEL CARRIED BY SAID BACK MEMBER AND EXTENDING ACROSS THE TOP TOWARD SAID FRONT MEMBER AND OVERLAPPING WITH SAID FIRST PANEL, (E) AND MEANS ADJUSTABLY FASTENING SAID FIRST AND SECOND PANELS FOR ADJUSTMENT TO EXTEND THE FRONT AND BACK MEMBERS FURTHER APART OR CLOSER TOGETHER, SELECTIVELY, THEREBY TO ACCOMMODATE MORE OR LESS THICKNESS OF SWATCHES OF RUG SAMPLES OR THE LIKE CARRIED THEREIN, SAID MEANS INCLUDING A PRESSURE CONNECTION BETWEEN SAID SUBSTANTIALLY FLAT BACK MEMBER AND SAID SHORTER FRONT MEMBER FORCING SAME TOGETHER ABOUT THE SWATCHES OF SAMPLES THEREBETWEEN AND ALSO LOCKING SAID ADJUSTMENT IN PLACE ON SAID SWATCHES OR SAMPLES, (F) SAID FIRST PANEL AND SAID SECOND PANEL EACH HAVING A PLURALITY OF CORRESPONDING ADJUSTMENT OPENINGS EXTENDING THERETHROUGH PROVIDING AN ALIGNED SET OF ADJUSTMENT HOLES, (G) AND SAID PRESSURE CONNECTION INCLUDING FASTENING MEMBERS EXTENDING THROUGH A SET OF SAID HOLES BETWEEN SAID FIRST AND SECOND PANELS THEREBY ADJUSTABLY FASTENING SAID PANELS TOGETHER AND SAID ADJUSTMENT MEMBERS BEING REMOVABLE AND SAID PANELS SELECTIVELY RE-POSITIONED TO ANOTHER LOCATION TO BRING SAID FRONT AND REAR CLOSER TOGETHER OR TO MOVE THEM FURTHER APART THEREBY TO SELECT AND SECURE SAID FIRST AND SECOND PANELS IN ANOTHER POSITION OF ADJUSTMENT. 